HomeMy WebLinkAbout1963-05-13PLANNING BOAPD MEETING
May 13, 1963
A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning
Board was held in its office, Town Office Building,
on Monday, May 13, 1963 at P:00 p.m. Present were
Chairman Mabee, Members Campbell and Meyer, and Mr.
Snow, Planning Director.
The Board began its meeting by first meeting
with the Board of Selectmen with reference to the EMERSON AND
width of pavements of Emerson and 13orthen Roads. WOP,THEN
(See minutes of Planning Board meeting of May 6; see ROADS
also minutes of Selectmen's Meeting of May 13 for
transcript of Planning Board's meeting; with the Board
of Selectmen.)
It was the concensus of the Planning_ Board
that Mr. Blake's report was so significant and so
well presented that the Selectmen ought to hear it
also. Mr. Mabee said he would try to arrange an
appointment with the Selectmen for such a presenta-
tion by 3,?r. Blake.
The Planning Board arnroved for payment the
followinf* bills which had been rresented: Samuel P. BILLS
Snow, car allowance for April, 1063--x'20.00; L. M.
Foster, tynewriter ribbons_= 3.65.
Considered next were the following Form A
arnlications for determination of Planning Board FO'3MS A
jurisdiction:
' 463-35, orevi ously listed.
763-36, submitted May 9, 1063 by Estate of
From 8:30 to 9:45 n.m. Mr. Carl Blake, chair-
man of the Poute 3 Committee of the Town MeetinM Mem- T.M.M.A.
hers' ^ssociation, met with. the Planning Board to -
present a detailed verbal report of the findings of FO?1TP 3
this committee. (A more menerai written report,
dated April 10, 19(,3, had been given to members of
the Board; see addendum.)
Mr. Blake recommended that a special agency
be created by a town meeting to act in behalf of
the town in an attempt to have 7 oute 3 not located
through Lexi_n Rton . Fe recommended that such a com-
mittee have funds arnronriated for its expenses and
be em_nowered to emn_lov consultants to assist in its
word -i.
It was the concensus of the Planning_ Board
that Mr. Blake's report was so significant and so
well presented that the Selectmen ought to hear it
also. Mr. Mabee said he would try to arrange an
appointment with the Selectmen for such a presenta-
tion by 3,?r. Blake.
The Planning Board arnroved for payment the
followinf* bills which had been rresented: Samuel P. BILLS
Snow, car allowance for April, 1063--x'20.00; L. M.
Foster, tynewriter ribbons_= 3.65.
Considered next were the following Form A
arnlications for determination of Planning Board FO'3MS A
jurisdiction:
' 463-35, orevi ously listed.
763-36, submitted May 9, 1063 by Estate of
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Aleah E. Canessa by Francis F. Burke, Atty.;
plan entitled "A Compiled Plan of Land in Lex-
ington, Mass.", Scale: 1" = 40', dated April
30, 1963, Miller F- Nylander, C.E.'s 8- Sur-
vevors.
Leon motion duly made and seconded, it was
unanimously
VOTED: that the Lexington Planning Board determines
that the Clans 'accom-oan-'ing Form A applica-
tions X63-35 and ;�63-36 do not require
annroval under the Subdivi.s3.on Control Law,
and that said n lans be so endorsed,
Dead to the Board was a letter, dated May 9,
MINUTE MAN 19631 from the ri_rrac Realttr Trust seeking a further
HIGH-LANextension of the time within which the Planning Board
SEC. 4 must act on the Trust's application for approval of
the Minute Man High -Lands Section 4 definitive subdi-
GIRRAC REALTY vision plan. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it
TRUST was unanimously
CARRIG VOTED: that at the written request of Tirrae Realty
Trust, the time within which the Board must act
on the anolication of Girrac Realty Trust for
annroval of the subdivision plan entitled "Min-
ute Man High -Lands Section 4 Lexington, Mass."
be further extended to and %ncludinr, May 21,
10 63 .
Considered also was the application for approval
BT�RNuAM FARMS of the Burnham Farms, Section 6 defi_ni.ti_ve subdivision
SEC. 6 plan. Read to the Board was Yr. Legro's letter of May
- 10, 1063 to the planni.nrr Director with reference to
TODD RFALTY, this subdivision and the assumption of obligations of
INC, the annLic^nt by Todd L'ealty, Inc. (See addendum.)
All matters apnearing to be in order, upon motion duly
made and seconded, it was unanimously
VOTED: that the definitive subdivision plan entitled
"Burnham Farms Section Six LexinFrton, Mass."
dated January 28, 1963., amended April 241 1963,
which was submitted to the Board by T4illiam I.
Burnham on March 15, 1963, accompanied by an
application for approval of a definitive plan,
Form C, dated March 1l�, 1963, the obligations
under rich application were thereafter assumed
by Todd Realty, Inc., be and bereby is annroved
subject to the followine; conditions:
That the provisions of the rules and regula-
tions of the Board are hereby waived in this
instance only to the following extent:
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a. That the grade of Frost '?oad he
' b. That the leveling area on said road adjacent
to East Street be 2.9POI).
The Board+s attention was called to the notices
of r..etitions to be heard by the Board of Appeals on BOARD OF
PSa7 28. Tt was decided to talre no action in repard to APPEALS
ti -e neti_ti ons to b e hes-d on said date.
"'he Board's ^ttent'o was also called to a cony
of a -petition, sated. P?av 11, 1 63, addressed to the CRAP. 40A
Selectmen and "lanni_nr Board of Lexington, requestinc, Ste. 8 G. L.
tT-1-t the following article be inserted In the warrant
for the cominv town meeti_n7:
"To the Selectmen R, Planning Board of Lexington
The undersigned registered voters request that the
following article be inserted in the '°Tarrant for the
coming Town Meeting:
Article To see whether the Town will accept
as a nart -of the '7onin� Sit -Law of Lexi- ncrton,Sect Ion 8
of Chanter 40A of the general Laws, which nrovides that
'After acceptance of this section or corresponding;
-provisions of earlier laws, as provided in section four
of Chapter four, no nrorosed ordinance or by-law making
a cha-rye in any existinrr zoning^ ordinance or by-law, which
has been unfavorably acted upon by a city council or town
meeting, shall he considered on its merits by the city
council or town meetinm within two ,years after the date
of such unfavorable action unless the adoption of such
nrorosed ordinance or by-law is recommended in the final
resort of the n lannin7 board or selectmen required by
section s,.x.'
"Te also request that arnr necessary public heeri_ng on
this matter be held as required by law."
Several registered voters from the Five Fields
residential area who has signed the petition were present
at the Planning- Board meeting and asired if the Boa rd would
reconsider its nosi.tinn of opposition to the nrorosed
article for the warrant (see minutes of the Planning
Board meeting of April 22, lo63) . The voters were Informed
that members of the "'oard were still unanimous in their
opinion that the Town should not adopt Sec. 8 of Chapter
LOA of the !=eneral Laws as -proposed in the -petition. It
was noi_nted out to the representatives o' the Five Fields
residential area teat even if the article were favorably
by the town could at every
acted croon meeting, pet4tioners
-h -
town meeting brinrr in a *petition for the rezoning of Vre
same nercel of land simpl-,r by changing slightly the
description of iand to be rezoned and/or the use nro-
nosed for said land.
It was decided to refer the petit'on to the Town
Counsel for an onini_on in regard to ways to carry out
the intent of the neti_tion and also for an opinion as to
whether or not the zoning by-law could be amended as
nronosed.
Renresentatives of Five Fields were informed
that someone or a croup of the petitioners would have
to rav for the costs of the T'lanni-ng Boardholding a
hearing on the nronosed amendment. They were asked to
give consideration as to when thejr would like the Board
to cold such a hearing.
There being no further business to conduct the
Planning Board adjorrnec' its meeting at 10:15 r.m.
rjo7senb ^ . Campbell,
Clerk
REPORT OF THE TMM.A ROUTE 3 COMTTTEE
10 e.nril 1963
The Route 3 committee was appointed in Julv of
1962 to gather and, organize as much n ertinent informa-
tion as possible relating to the extension of Poute 3
from its current terminus at Route 128 in Burlington.
From its _gear of studtr, the committee concludes:
1. Effects upon Lexington
A high-sneed expressway crossing the town of Lexington
will tend to change Lexi_n7ton from its present predomi-
nantly residential, noncommerciai, suburban character to
a more industrialized, noisier, metropolitan-tvpe com-
munity. Tt will split the town into adcli_tional, small
segments, each of which is nartiti_oned from the rest of
'he town by a hi ah -speed exnresswatr. Tt will consume
150 acres of residentially zoned real estate and reduce
the residential desirabilit of many addi.ti.onal acres.
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The committee believes that when and if the 'nPW begins to
implement their consultants recommendations regarding
Route 3, it will touch off the most bitter dispute ever
waged between the town of Lexington and the D*4. This
disnute will dwarf the honefully resolved disar7reements be-
tween Lexington and the DFJ regarding Route 2.
2. Cost Considerations
The DPWIs consultants cost analysis of "oute 3 fails to
trove that their recommended location across Lexington is
less costly than their alternate location. A fair cost
comparison is very difficult ane insufficient data are
available to attempt such a comparison. In anv event,
the costs of the two nossible highways are not sufficiently
different to be the major deciding factor as to which hiF-
way location Is to be selected.
3. Road Ffficiene-v
The D""I's consultant Is own data abow that the alternate
location provides expressway service to more communities
and to a -treater traffic volume than does tre recommended
location. Thirtv_ei_ght tousand more vehicles rer day are
' removed from surface, feeder streets and placed on express-
wa,-s if the alternate location is followed instead of the
recommended location.
4. Timing
At the time of this wr;ting, Route 3 appears to be a dormant
subject at the DPW. It is -ot clear what their thinking is
regarding Route 2 from '.Tatertown Street to the Alewife Brook
Parkwa,,o or what they consider to be the interaction between
Route 2 and Route We sorely need a listening cost within
the DPW to keep us informed of their n fans.
5. Action
There is little, if any, direct action that the town of Lex-
in7ton'can take at this time relating to the Route 3 exten-
sion. The first stems in bringi.nF this issue to a hear must
be ta?�en bir the DP?^l. ??ntil they act, the most Lexington
can do Is to be. ore-oaree to counter their expected moves. At
some future, unknown date, the DPW will hold hearings and
confront zis with a nronosed Mr. lwR,7 elan. One thing the
town can do in nreparation for that day is to eeleaate to an
official town board or committee the resnonsibility for ad-
vancing and nrotecting the interests of the town in the
' =route 3 question. The specific group charged with this re-
snonsibility could be the Planning Board or the 13onrd of
Selectmen or a subcommittee of either board. it should have
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adequate funding from the town. The group would undoubtedly
'
engage legal counsel to study the Route 3 problem and to
advise the croup on the legal aspects of DPW actions and the
legal aspects of actions considered by the ^mroup. The group
could become the trigger for a rronerly timed move by Lex-
inrtonians to deluge state and federal noliticians and
official boards, such as the DDW anO the Federal Bureau of
'loads, with letters, telerbone calls, and „ersonal visits
nrotestinr- the highway loc^tion. The -roue we acre su7gest-
Ing would constitute an official agency of the town charred
specifically with the task of representing the town in U e
Route 3 issue. Tris ¢roup would `F speak with a voice that
would be heard.` Their vert existence would be a strong
reminder to the DP?l that Lexingtonians mean business when
it comes to preventing Route 3 from crossing their town.
The THMA, if it desired, could encourage the Planning Board
or Board of Selectmen to initiate the action necessary to
establish such a group. Tt would obviously require coordi-
nation with and cooperation from these boards. Tf accord
with them were reached, an appropriate article could be
formulated forthewarrant of a special town meeting. This
article would authorize the ,formation of such a group, de-
fine its purposes,_ describe hoi-Y the group would be appointed,
and nrovi_de it with: a -working budget,
Tn the event such a "roun were formed, we, the present com-
mittee, would have little reason to continue ot?r work. 'le
could become a liaison between the TPih,A and the Proup in
question, but such a role seems too minor to iustify a com-
mittee. Tf such a mroun Is not formed, there are other
areas wl^erei.n this committee could do some useful work.
Some of these areas ar.e:
1. Keen the TWA. abreast of new developments relating to
the `?oute 3 extension;
Z. Conduct presentations of the information we have already
gathered to town boards and interested citizens;
3. Publish a summary of -our conclusions and our reasons be-
hind these conclusions -
4. Obtain additional information such .as a detailed study
of the nroperties affected by the r i g�way including the
properties taken and the nronerties that would abut the
highway;
5. Sound out the planning 7rouns from the towns in the bath
of.the alternate highway to determine their views for or ,
against the alternate location.
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' Questions 'have arisen in the minds of members of this com-
mittee which we would like to place before the TMMA execu-
tive committee and nerhnos even the TMMA at large. The
questions are: Does t'e TT?TIA 'have the ri.F;ht to be involved
in action aimed snecifically at nreventi.ng Route 3 from
crossinc; Lexin?ton? Should we accent a leadership role in
such action? Can we, 1,7i.thin the framework of our By -Laws,
be an action r~roup? Are we, in fact, an action f*roup when
we address an audience and it is obvious to all present that
we are dead -set against the proposed location of route 3?
Vour. nnute 3 committee has done nothinc* to resolve the Poute
3 problem. 'Je have looked at it. It is real. It won't go
away, and we don't like it. `.,lhether or not we can nlay a
useful role for the TBP �A and should continue to function as
a committee, this we leave for you to decide.
Resnectfully submitted,
Carl '_31ake, Chairman
Aiatalie IT. Riffin
Sumner Perlman
- - - - - - - Tiay lo, 1��3
Samuel P. "now, Planni.n Director
Lex! _n'ton "lannin? Board
Town Ofrice Bu.ildingp
Lcxi n ?ton 73, T="P.ssachusetts
Dear Sam; e: _,_�urnbam Farms Secti.nn Si.x
I enclose a conformed cony of an instrument dated
nIan S. lc'3 wherein Todd_ Pealty, inc,, the successor in
title to the land in the subdivision entitled Turnham
Farms Section Six Lexin,7ton, Mass,", assumes to the mown of
Lex, --ton and agrees to perform all of the obligations of
T,Tilliam T. Parnham unCer application to the Plannin^ Board
dated Yrch 15, 1063.
Also enclosed is the original and a conformed copy
of a bond executed by Todd Realty, Inc. and Mark Moore,
Jr., InOividually, tot^ether with savings bank book #[f!673
and withdrawal order si_crned by Marr; Moore, Jr., renresent-
i_nrr the account in the ',(,Yin -ton Savinr*s 'dank standinrr in
the name of ^Nark Moore, Jr. -qr.d�or rladys T'. Moore (�nec-
i.al Woad a/c? in the amount of x,22,500.00 by which said
bond and ar-reement are secured.
' Tn view of the foreong, T helieve it is in order
for the-rlannin7 Board to consider annroval of the subdivi-
son elan.
Duri.n� the anneal period a -rant of easements in
this subdivision shoulc be obtained. If you will advise
me as to the easements desired by the planni_nc^ Roard, T
will nrenare the 'nstrument and. arrrenae for its execution.
Sincerer, vou.rs,
/s/ Donald r, Lero
DFL/b
Enclosures as above
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